Watchmen [2009]

After directing two blockbusters (Dawn of the Dead, 300), Zack Snyder was hired to finish a movie that has been in developmental hell for over twenty years. The comic books were released back in 1987 and many famous directors were hired (Darren Aronofsky, Terry Gilliam), but everyone thought that this could not be done. Zack proved them wrong by making one of the most polarizing comic book adaptations in recent years. If you’re expecting an action movie filled with cool special effects, you’re in the wrong place. This is a slow-burner that takes matters seriously and exactly this caused many of the viewers to leave the theaters disappointing. General population still needs to have “real” people talking if they want a discussion about morality, current system of values and life in general. This was, of course, before the big comic/movie fusion. Nolan’s The Dark Knight premiered one year earlier featuring the formula for commercial success. Oddly enough, Batman had decades to build its world and characters, while Watchmen took the world by storm. The story is set in the alternate reality where many interesting things have happened.

It is the year 1985 and things are not looking good. Since the late thirties, The Minuteman, later dubbed Watchmen, were responsible for maintaining the world order and helping USA in their efforts. Here, we find our heroes fighting the good fight.

I don’t want to give away anymore of the plot, since it is pretty interesting. Especially the parts about alternate historic events, like Vietnam war and WWIII. Watchmen has very well developed characters that are very colorful and with some pretty intriguing background stories. They are basically ordinary people, with their faults and characteristics driving them to go both good and bad. Complex characters generate complex situations and moral ambiguity is one of the things that I loved about this movie. Granted, sometimes the twists seem and bit cliched and forced, but those are minor errors when compared to the movie as a whole. Visuals were fantastic, a combination of special and practical effects that’s neither here nor there. Delightfully subversive and visually stunning, Watchmen features subjects that need to be examined. It also forces the mind the toy with alternate universes and historic events, literally making people reexamine their own attitudes towards them. Vietnam war, Nixon, Russians and many other fun subjects are waiting for you. So, it’s time to put on your favorite costume and delve into the strange, troubling but more importantly, so real world of Watchmen.